Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

Is frequent urination tied to food allergies?  Though there are a few articles online advancing this theory, the truth is that no connection has been made in the world of medical studies.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that the connection will not someday be established but it is important to look at all the known causes for frequent urination before assuming there is a cause between your frequent urination and food allergies.

It isn’t hard to see how the jump can be made in associating this problem with food allergies since food allergy symptoms do include stomach related upset like diarrhea and abdominal pain.  The theory is that wheat allergy and gluten allergy are specific suspects in the correlation between food allergies and frequent  urination.

Celiac disease sufferers are of specific interest here since their problems with the digestion of gluten products cause a variety of intestinal issues.  Some people with Celiac Disease have reported frequent urination as a symptom so there may end up being a basis in that regard.

Other culprits that have been tagged as suspects are foods high in acid.  This would also include drinks like sodas, tea and cranberry juice.  Interestingly enough foods can affect people in different ways.  I for one know that if I combine orange juice with peanut butter and jelly I am headed to the  bathroom within 15 minutes.  Is this the acid in the orange juice or the wheat and gluten in the wheat bread for my sandwich?  Keep in mind that some soda and coffee drinkers have many of these drinks a day which in and of itself may cause you to go to the bathroom often.

As with food allergies in general, cataloging what you eat and the allergic symptoms they may cause will allow you to make more progress than just guessing.  Frequent urination is a symptom of a variety of possible illnesses like Diabetes so a doctor should rule all of them out before you just assume your frequent urination is associated with your food allergies.  Another area the doctor may look at are the medicines that you are taking.  Many medicines have what may appear to be benign side effects including frequent urination including some allergy medicines.

Frequent urination though may be more than a nuisance if it is affecting your ability to do the things that you need to do and the things that you want to do.  There a plenty of medicines being marketed for over active bladder so that may be an option for you depending on your doctor’s advice.  If you truly suspect that  your frequent urination is associated with a food allergy or a food intolerance make sure you go into the doctor armed with a catalog that can help them pinpoint the problem.

When my son was around 2 years old my pediatrician started to suspect that he might have a possible gluten allergy. I, of course, had never heard of this. I didn’t even know what gluten was. It was a scary diagnosis because the more research I did the more I knew this could change my son’s life forever. I was even further terrified by the possibility that it could go beyond a gluten allergy into the realm of celiac disease.

What is Gluten?

There is a rubbery like protein in various grains that is causing a many problems for a growing number of across our country and around our world. This substance has been around for thousands of years, and is a naturally occurring one. This protein is called gluten and is found in wheat, rye, barley and a low level in oats as well. This protein helps bind the dough together, causing it to rise when baked. These grains can cause a gluten allergy in those who are sensitive, yet other proteins in the grains can also cause symptoms as well. There are four primary proteins that are found in gluten-containing grains. These are albumin, globulin, gliadin, and glutenin.

Symptoms of Gluten Allergy

The symptoms from any of these proteins can be quite similar.

Symptoms of gluten allergy can include:

• abdominal cramps
• swelling
• vomiting
• asthma

Symptoms could potentially be life threatening if you are very sensitive.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Often, many people have gone many years with problems from gluten allergy before being properly diagnosed. It is very important to locate a trained professional who is skilled in these types of issues when dealing with gluten allergy. My pediatrician sent me to a specialist to dig into my son’s symptoms further.

A skin prick can sometimes be used to detect an allergy to wheat but a true gluten allergy is more often confirmed through a blood test. Since wheat is found in so many daily food items, it is difficult to find the true culprit of the symptoms sometimes. Yet, with diligence, it can be done. If a gluten reaction is very severe, then the patient should be told to eliminate all gluten-containing products from one’s diet. However, some doctors suggest that if the gluten allergy is minor, that small amounts may be introduced with time. More people agree that an elimination diet is a far better approach.

Gluten Allergy versus Celiac Disease

Gluten allergy should not be confused with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, which is a hereditary disorder and is auto-immune in nature. The gluten actually damages the intestinal lining in this disease, causing food to be improperly absorbed by the body. Celiac disease requires that gluten be eliminated from the diet totally and for life. Celiac disease is more prevalent in certain races and since I am married to an Irish man I thought this could explain why I had never heard of it since I am of Latin descent.

Luckily for us when the dust settled my son was diagnosed with a mild lactose intolerance but the experience opened my eyes to the challenges someone could have if they had a gluten allergy or worse yet Celiac Disease. While living with a gluten allergy or intolerance can be a challenge learning how to manage it through your diet is definitely worth it.